Obama Personally Helps Woman Gain Social Security Disability Benefits

Lois Dare had applied for Social Security disability benefits – and had been denied twice. Despite a diagnosis of lung cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, a disability attorney told the woman that an appeal would take over a year. Dare was desperate for help with her medical bills, but didn’t know how to move forward.When she heard that President Barack Obama was coming to a nearby town, however, she became determined to let the leader know that she wasn’t getting the help that she deserved. After sleeping in her car for two nights and waiting in long lines (with her oxygen tank and all), she finally got her moment with the President.

She asked, simply, what she should do if Social Security denied her benefits even though she was too sick to work. Obama answered that anyone who has paid into the system deserves support from the system if they become unable to work.

After the town hall, Obama approached Dare and spoke with her privately about her health issues and disability benefit issues, saying that she reminded him of his late mother who passed away from cancer. He took her contact information and gave her a hug.

Within hours, Dare had heard from both of her state senators and the governor – her disability payments will begin on September 1.